Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

all too soon became tangled and trapped in a seething mass of creepers and vines, and had to be cut free. The reptiloid returned to the back of the group for some serious sulking. Rose took over cutting trail, and chopped and hacked her way through the jungle like a machine from hell. But even she grew tired eventually. She wouldn't admit it, of course, and in the end Brett had to drag her almost bodily to a halt to rest. He patted her comfortingly on her leather-clad shoulder, at arm's length, while she got her breathing back under control, her cold glare daring anyone to say anything.
    "I've got a better idea," Brett said. "Watch this."
    Brett scowled, concentrating on the slowly stirring vegetation before him, and then hit it with a focused blast of his esp compulsion. The scarlet and pink foliage shook and shuddered under the impact of his mind, and then slowly retreated back out of the way, so that a narrow trail opened up before the group as if by magic. Brett crowed loudly, and did a little celebratory dance. But his sense of triumph was short lived; something reached out of the dark, secret heart of the jungle and touched his exposed mind. Brett froze where he was as a vast alien presence slowly turned its attention upon him. It was like a huge eye, studying him coldly. And he was so very, very small. Brett hadn't been so scared since he'd glimpsed the esper oversoul, back on Logres. This was worse. At least the oversoul had a human nature. The Red Brain was different, utterly inhuman. It was just too big, too much for him to bear, and he slammed down all his mental shields, concealing his thoughts and his presence behind as many layers of barriers as he could fashion.
    Only a few seconds had passed. No one else had noticed anything. Lewis was still studying the newly opened trail. Rose was looking at Brett thoughtfully, but that was nothing new.
    "All right, Brett," said Lewis. "I am officially impressed. How the hell did you do that?"
    Brett looked at the trail ahead. It was still holding its shape, even though he wasn't holding it open anymore. Presumably the Red Brain had decided to let things stand. He realized Lewis was waiting for an answer, and spoke absently, still too shaken to even think of lying.
    "It's part of the esp I gained from taking Finn's damned esper drug. I can make things obey me."
    "Things," Lewis said. "Not… people?"
    "Oh, no!" Brett said quickly, all his self-preservation instincts kicking in. "Heaven forfend, Sir Deathstalker! What do you think I am, some kind of ELF? I do have principles, you know. Not as many as other people, perhaps, but…"
    Lewis gave him a hard look, and then turned away and set off along the new trail.
    It kept opening up before them, and the going became much easier. But still the ground was uneven and treacherous, and the trail swerved and weaved around the huge dark-boled trees. They slogged on, and time passed slowly, and still there was no sign ofMissionCity . The relentless drip drip drip of rain did nothing to improve anyone's temper, and no one was talking to anyone anymore because it always led to arguments, and they didn't have the energy. Jesamine could feel the others shooting her the occasional speculative glance, clearly waiting for her to start whining again about being a star, and how she shouldn't have to put up with conditions like this. So she gritted her teeth and toughed it out, keeping grimly silent just to spite them. Her back ached, her legs were trembling from the strain, her shoes were ruined, and her feet weren't talking to her, but she was damned if she'd give the others the satisfaction of hearing her complain. Even Lewis, who would of course be very understanding…
    Jesamine was getting tougher, and she was stronger than she'd thought. She took pride in keeping up the pace with the rest of them, and started to remember how proudly self-reliant she'd always been when she was younger and just starting out on her career— when she'd had to fight her way on and off stage, and face down sleazy managers afterwards to get the wages owed her. It occurred to Jesamine that she preferred this new tough her to the old pampered her, though she was damned if she'd admit that to anyone, even Lewis.
    For all their struggle through the crimson jungle, the group couldn't help but be impressed by it. The jungle was just so… big, and old, and overpoweringly alien. With the gloom of the overhead canopy, and the sudden shafts of light breaking